1-17 - BVS Winter Orientation
12-18 - District Disaster Relief Trip
14 - Valentine's Day
20 - President's Day
22 - Ash Wednesday
26 - First Sunday of Lent

In an announcement from the Conference Office, on Feb. 22 general registration and housing reservations open online for the 2012 Annual Conference of the Church of the Brethren, to be held on July 7-11 in St. Louis, Mo. The registration site for the Conference is www.brethren.org/ac.

Feb. 22 also is the last day for congregations to register delegates at the $285 early registration fee, also at www.brethren.org/ac (click on "Delegate Registration"). From Feb. 23-June 11 the delegate registration fee increases to $310. After June 11, delegate registration is only available onsite in St. Louis, for a fee of $360.

Beginning at 12 noon (central time) on Feb. 22 nondelegate registration opens at the same web address. This includes family registrations, housing reservations, sign up for age-group activities, sales of meal tickets, purchase of Conference booklets and choir anthem packets, and more.

General registration fees for nondelegates start at $105 for adults who attend the full Conference, $30 for children and youth (ages 12-21) for the full Conference, $35 adult daily rate, $10 children and youth daily rate, with children under 12 registering for free. Active Brethren Volunteer Service workers pay a $30 registration fee.

After June 11, all online registration for the Conference closes and increased onsite registration fees will apply. See www.brethren.org/ac for the complete Information Packet that includes a full fee schedule, hotel reservation information and lodging costs, and much more information in downloadable format.

1-4 - Men's Way of Christ Weekend
2 - World Day of Prayer
2-4 - Spring District Youth Retreat
3 - New Beginnings Fellowship Closing Service and Auction
8-11 - Women's Way of Christ Weekend
10 - Pinecrest Pie Baking Contest
10-12 - Mission and Ministry Board @ New Windsor
11 - Daylight Savings Time Begins
18 - One Great Hour of Sharing
23-24 - Children's Disaster Training at Cerro Gordo

The Fall 2011 Way of Christ weekends have blessed a new group of weekend participants. As they return home encouraged and equipped with new tools to be purposed participants in their families and congregations, I am wondering who will next take such a step.

The weekends for 2012 are scheduled and leadership is starting to organize for these events. Now is the time to plan to attend. So look at your calendar then contact me:

March 1-4, 2012: Men's Weekend #21
March 8-11, 2011: Women's Weekend #21

October 18-21, 2012: Men's Weekend #22
October 25-28, 2012: Women's Weekend # 22

- Dan Rusmisel (d_rusmiselle@yahoo.com)

How is God Calling You?
March 2-4, 2012

When: Registration will begin at 7 pm on Friday Night at Neighborhood Church. Retreat participants will be dismissed after worship on Sunday March 4th around 11:30 AM.

Who: Everyone currently in 9th through 12th grades during the 2011-2012 school year. Friends and advisors are welcome.

Where: Neighborhood Church of the Brethren 1-630-897-3347

Speaker: Dana McNeil is the Pastor of the First Church of the Brethren of Peoria. He has also been the director of Senior High Youth Camp at Camp Emmanuel.

Cost: $39 for youth - no charge for advisors. Make checks payable to "Illinois/Wisconsin District Youth"

What to Bring: Bible, Games, Sleeping Bag, and Towel. We will be doing a service project - so bring clothes that can get dirty.

Registration Deadline: Feb 26th, 2012.

The IL/WI youth cabinet is asking how YOU have been called by God. If you have a story or calling you would like to share (anonymously or openly), please do! Please contact one of the cabinet members with your story.

The New Beginnings Fellowship congregation at Batavia is no longer meeting together. The District Leadership Team has assumed responsibility for the property in accordance with Church of the Brethren polity. At the most recent District Leadership Team meeting held January 14, 2012, a decision was made to sell the church property in Batavia. There are some things that need to be cared for prior to initiating a sale.

It seems important to bring closure to the congregation, therefore a brief closing service will be held at the New Beginnings Fellowship meetinghouse located at 613 N. Van Buren St. in Batavia on Saturday, March 3, 2012, at 2:00pm. Additionally, contents in the building such as hymnals, kitchen utensils, some furniture, Sunday school supplies, and other items need to be disposed of appropriately. This will be done through an auction that will be held immediately following the closing service.

We hope you will be able to attend this special event to support those who have been associated with the congregation as they say their final farewells. And, we hope you will find items in the auction that you can use personally or in your congregation.

The proceeds of the auction will be deposited in the Batavia Fund of the District's resources. Following the sale of the property, the Leadership Team will determine how to best utilize all proceeds to best support the ongoing work and ministry of the district.

Note: This is not a public auction. It is open only to Church of the Brethren congregations, members, and associated persons.

Mark your calendar and plan to join us at the Grove Community Center on March 10, 2012 for a fun filled afternoon. Pinecrest Community will be hosting a pie baking contest open to all ages and talents. Prizes will be awarded to the bakers of the winning pies, a pie auction will be held, crafters and vendors will be displaying their goods, and children's activities are planned. All proceeds from the pie baking contest benefit Pinecrest's Good Samaritan Fund. For more information, to register as a baker, register as a crafter or vendor, or to volunteer, contact Amy Sikyta at asikyta@pinecrestcommunity.org or 815-734-4103 x277. More information will be available online at www.pinecrestcommunity.org and on Pinecrest Community's Facebook page. You won't want to miss this event which is sure to be fun for all ages!

A training event for Children's Disaster Services will be held at the Cerro Gordo Church of the Brethren, 102 E. Durfee St., Cerro Gordo, IL, on Friday and Saturday, March 23-24, 2012.

For additional information and to register for the event call the New Windsor Disaster Response Office at 800-451-4407. It is not necessary to be a part of the Church of the Brethren to participate in this training event. Questions about the event can be directed locally to Rosie Brandenburg at (217) 763-6039 or samrosie@ctiwireless.com.

Rosie would be glad to receive invitations to come to speak at your church or organization.

CCS 2012 participants will consider carbon footprints and carbon labeling. Join us on the journey!

April 14-19, 2012 - New York and Washington, D.C.

Register online now! Registration is limited to 100 participants, so register early!

Who is eligible to attend?

All high school youth and adult advisors are eligible to attend the seminar.

Churches sending over four youth are required to send at least one adult advisor to insure an adequate number of adults. Registration is limited to the first 100 participants.

What does it cost?

CCS 2012 registration costs $375, which includes:

* lodging for five nights
* dinner on the opening evening of the seminar
* transportation from New York to Washington D.C.

Each participant needs to bring additional money for meals, sightseeing, personal expenses and a few subway/taxi fares.

Stepping Out: Our Relationship with Carbon

Excitement about Christian Citizenship Seminar 2012 is rising! There is still room for you and your youth at CCS 2012!

With an increase in fossil fuel consumption and industrial pollution, one growing environmental stewardship concern is carbon. Although essential to life, too much carbon does damage. During this week will explore personal and countries carbon footprints, and the affects carbon footprints have on others.

At this particular Christian Citizenship Seminar, rather than a debate on "global warming," participants will focus on how we as individuals and as a country might respond to the high level of carbon in today's atmosphere. How much carbon do everyday tasks, such as driving to school or eating a banana imported from a tropical country, put into the atmosphere? What is our country's carbon footprint? How does that footprint compare to other developed countries? Are there actions we can encourage our government to implement?

Carbon labeling is one large scale response being experimented with in other parts of the world. As always, after a number of educational sessions, CCS participants will visit their legislators to discuss what they have learned and what changes they would like to see in government policy as a result.

If you talk to your school principal, there might be a way for you to get credit for the event, without being penalized for missing school. Talk with them today, so that you won't miss this fantastic opportunity.

For more information contact:

Carol Fike at 800-323-8039 ext. 281 or
cfike@brethren.org

Youth and Young Adult Ministries Office
1451 Dundee Ave.
Elgin, IL 60120
CoBYouth@brethren.org
(800)323-8039
www.brethren.org/ccs

WORSHIP * WORKSHOPS * FELLOWSHIP * FOOD

Registration Fee - $5.00, but no one will be turned away.
Registration deadline prior to the District Potluck is April 9.
You may attend without registering ahead of time.

Each person should bring a potluck dish to enjoy with others from across the district.
Drinks and table service will be provided.

Schedule
8:00 - 9:00 ------------ Registration
9:00 - 9:40 ------------ Opening Worship
10:00 - 10:45 ---------- Workshop Session 1
11:00 - 11:40 ---------- Worship
11:45 - 12:55 ---------- Potluck Lunch and Fellowship
1:00 - 1:45 ------------ Workshop Session 2
2:00 - 2:45 ------------ Workshop Session 3
2:50 - 3:25 ------------ Closing Worship

Workshop Topics and Leaders
Deacon Training -- Donna Kline
Memorizing Scripture -- Genie Fifer
Forms of Prayer -- Chris Douglas
Storytelling -- Denise Nichols

Plan now to attend this exciting event. Share this information with others in your church. There will be something for everyone: deacons, Sunday School teachers, pastors, those who want to learn, worship, and enjoy wonderful fellowship.

Come enjoy time with sisters and brothers from across the district!
This one-day event is being planned by your District Deacons on behalf of the Leadership Team of the District.

Please download and complete the registration form and return it the registration fee to the District Office at 269 E. Chestnut St., Canton, IL 61520. Make checks payable to the District of IL/WI. NOTE: If you know how many are planning to attend from your congregation but are unsure of who, please return the form with the name of the congregation and the number attending. This will help us plan for the day. Thank you.

We look forward to seeing you and visiting on Saturday, April 28, 2012, at Peoria.

High school youth are invited to attend Exploring Your Call (EYC) at Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, Ind., this summer, June 15-25. This event provides the opportunity for young people entering their junior or senior year of high school in fall 2012 to explore faith and vocation through classes, congregational involvement, service projects, personal and spiritual enrichment, and recreation.

Russell Haitch, associate professor of Christian education and director of the Institute for Youth and Young Adults at Bethany, oversees EYC. "It's an intense but beautiful program. Last year, youth studied theology in the classroom, then shadowed pastors and did real-life ministry, then took a trip to Chicago to live in an intentional community and learn about all sorts of non-pastoral vocations. The level of conversation and quality of friendship that developed was really splendid, and I'm excited that equally good things will happen this year."

Young adults between the age of 18 and 35 are invited to the National Young Adult Conference in Knoxville, TN. This event will be a chance for young adults to gather and create a loving community, have engaging conversations about our role in the denomination and also enjoy various speakers.

NYAC takes place on June 18 - 22, 2012 at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. Our theme is "Humble, yet Bold: Being the Church," based on Matt. 5: 13 - 18, "Being Salt for the Earth" and "A light for the world."

Online registration are open at www.brethren.org/yac. The cost for the event will be $375 and includes housing, programming and meals. The Young Adult Steering Committee encourages congregations to offer NYAC scholarships in their 2012 budgets. NYAC gift certificates may be purchased by friends and families.

Don't miss this opportunity to be part of the community that will be created during these five days in Knoxville. Join us on Facebook on "Young Adults of the Church of the Brethren."

For more information call 800-323-8039 ext. 281 or E-mail NYAC2012@brethren.org.

Online registration for the 2012 workcamps in now open. Go to www.brethren.org/workcamps to register. For questions, please contact Cat Gong or Rachel Witkovsky in the Workcamp Office by e-mail at cobworkcamps@brethren.org or by phone at 800-323-8039 ext. 283 or 301.

Director of Advancement/Marketing, Pinecrest Community

General Purpose:

Develops, coordinates and monitors overall fundraising strategy for solicitation, cultivation and closing of major and planned gifts and manages relationships with donors, congregations and prospects. Oversees capital campaigns, direct mail and social media appeals, and advancement communications. Maintains and expands 50-60 major donor relationships. Expands the Century II Club, the planned giving society of Pinecrest Community. Active leader in the organization as part of the administrative team and works closely with the Board of Directors, Foundation Board and community volunteers.

Requirements:

Education/Experience:

Minimum Bachelor's degree; Preferred five years of fundraising experience with two years supervisory experience and understanding of retirement and long term care communities.

Skills and Abilities:

Coordinate and/or direct a variety of complex tasks and assignments simultaneously, excellent oral and written communication skills; superior management skills; ability to deliver individual and group presentations; energy and vision to take the advancement function to the next level; able to motivate self and others with strong relationship skills; able to work individually and/or collaboratively; working knowledge of general business operations in a nonprofit, social service or similar environment; responsible for departmental budget; fluent in fundraising software; working knowledge of MS Office;

Pinecrest Community offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefit package.

Resumes should be sent electronically to vmarshall@pinecrestcommunity.org or mailed to Pinecrest Community, Attn: Victoria Marshall, 414 S. Wesley Ave., Mt. Morris, IL 61054.

There is a 2012 Speakers List for the Illinois/Wisconsin District. Persons included in this document have accepted the invitation to be available to preach during worship services or for other special events as indicated. Hopefully you will find this tool useful and valuable when the need arises for inviting a guest speaker.

The speakers on this list are all credentialed ministers, either licensed or ordained. We would like to expand the list to include more credentialed ministers as well as interested laity. If your name is absent from the list and you have interest in serving as a guest speaker, please inform the district office. We would also welcome the names of persons you might suggest for inclusion on the list.

Since this is a new venture, it is likely we may need to provide more information than is included. Your input as to how the list can be improved would be welcomed.

Please share with the District Office any questions, comments, or concerns you may have.

Sustaining and developing ministry (mission) within congregations, as well as maintaining property (mortar), is sometimes hindered because of inadequate financial resources. The Illinois/Wisconsin District, whose mission is to support the growth and development of member congregations, realizes that this dilemma exists and desires to financially support congregations that are in good standing with the district and have specific needs. Congregations in good standing are those that for the past two years have sent delegates to district conference and have supported the district financially with undesignated gifts of at least $100 per year for the past two years.

The Gifts Discernment and Call Committee seeks your help. We are commissioned to call active, informed, and committed members of congregations or fellowships from within our District to positions of service. These persons, both pastors and lay members, are to be called from all parts of the District and to represent the diversity among us. Our committee's knowledge of members eligible and capable to serve is limited. Therefore, we make this appeal for assistance.